How to Use Quick Notes on iPad (Tips, Gestures, and Shortcuts)

If you are already using another app and want to quickly jot down notes or copy information for research, Apple introduced a feature called Quick Notes in 2021 for iPad and Mac. This feature lets you capture thoughts instantly and move on.

Quick Notes opens as a small floating note on top of whatever you are doing and saves automatically. You can use it to jot down ideas, save links, set reminders, or capture references while reading or researching.

What is Quick Note on iPad?

Quick Note is a fast-access version of the Notes app. You can open it from the Home Screen or inside apps like Safari, Mail, Messages, and more. It does not replace the Notes app. Instead, it works as an add-on designed for moments when timing matters.

One of the most useful features of Quick Notes is context. When you create a Quick Note while viewing a webpage or app content, iPadOS remembers where the note came from.

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This means:

• You can save links or highlighted text directly into a Quick Note
• The note stays connected to its source
• When you return to the same website, your Quick Note appears as a small preview

All Quick Notes sync automatically across your Apple devices, so anything you write on iPad is also available on your iPhone and Mac.

How to Open Quick Notes on iPad

Apple provides several ways to open Quick Notes. You only need one, so use whichever feels most natural in daily use.

Method 1: Swipe From the Bottom-Right Corner

This is the fastest way to open a Quick Note and works almost everywhere on iPad.

Swipe up from the bottom-right corner of the screen, and the Quick Note window appears instantly. This works with Apple Pencil or your finger, as long as the gesture is enabled.

If you use Stage Manager on supported iPads, this gesture may not work. In that case, use Control Center or a keyboard shortcut.

Method 2: Open Quick Note From Control Center

If you prefer tapping instead of gestures, Control Center is a reliable option.

Once Quick Note is added to Control Center, swipe down from the top-right corner and tap the Quick Note icon whenever you need it.

To add Quick Note to Control Center:

1. Open Settings on your iPad.
2. Tap Control Center.
3. Tap the plus (+) next to Quick Note.
   

Method 3: Use a Keyboard Shortcut

If you use an external keyboard, Quick Notes feels faster and more natural.

Keyboard shortcuts:

• Globe + Q opens a Quick Note instantly
• Command + N creates a new Quick Note if one is already open

This works well if you spend a lot of time typing, researching, or writing.

Method 4: Create a Quick Note From Apps Like Safari

Some apps let you send content directly into a Quick Note. Safari is the most common example.

While reading a webpage, you can highlight text or tap Share or More, then choose Add to Quick Note. This saves the content along with its source, which is especially useful for research and studying.

How to Write and Use Quick Notes

Using Quick Notes feels similar to using the Notes app, just faster and more lightweight.

Inside a Quick Note, you can:

• Type or handwrite using Apple Pencil
• Draw or sketch ideas
• Add images and screenshots
• Paste links from apps or websites
• Use tags and mentions

Navigation stays simple and out of the way:

• Swipe left or right to move between recent Quick Notes
• Tap the grid icon to view all Quick Notes in the Notes app
• Tap the compose icon to start a new Quick Note
• Use the three-dot menu to share, add a screenshot, or delete the note

When you are finished, tap Done. There is no save button because everything saves automatically.

Where Quick Notes Are Saved

Every Quick Note you create is stored in the Quick Notes folder inside the Notes app.

Keep these things in mind:

• You can view and edit all Quick Notes from the Notes app
• If you move a Quick Note to another folder, it becomes a regular note
• Moved notes no longer appear as Quick Notes inside apps
• Quick Notes cannot be locked unless you move them to a different folder first

Organize Quick Notes With Tags and Smart Folders

If you use Quick Notes often, organization becomes important.

Tags help group related notes. You can add a tag by typing a hashtag followed by a word, such as #work or #ideas. Once active, tags turn yellow and become searchable. You can add multiple tags to a note and even convert handwritten tags into text.

Smart Folders take organization further. Instead of sorting notes manually, they automatically collect notes based on rules such as:

• Tags
• Dates
• Mentions
• Attachments

Once set up, Smart Folders update automatically and save time later.

Search and Find Quick Notes

Quick Notes are easy to find when you need them. The Notes app can search:

• Typed text
• Handwritten notes
• Text inside images
• Text in scanned documents

You can search across all notes or within a single Quick Note. If a note is locked, only its title appears in search results.

Share and Collaborate on Quick Notes

Quick Notes can be shared or used for collaboration through iCloud.

You can:

• Send a copy of a Quick Note
• Invite others to view or edit a note
• Control who can make changes
• See updates in real time

You can also mention someone using the @ symbol to notify them. Locked notes cannot be shared or used for collaboration.

How to Turn Off the Quick Note Swipe Gesture

If you keep opening Quick Notes by accident, you can disable the corner swipe gesture. To turn it off:

1. Open Settings on your iPad.
2. Go to Apps > Notes.
3. Tap Corner Gestures.
4. Turn off Allow Finger to Swipe from Corner.
   

This only disables the gesture. Your existing notes remain unchanged.

Why Quick Notes Is Worth Using

Quick Notes works because it fits naturally into how people use iPad. It opens quickly, saves automatically, and does not interrupt what you are doing.

If you regularly read, research, or multitask on your iPad, Quick Notes makes it easier to capture information at the moment it matters and move on without breaking your flow.